As the 2026 tournament season begins, one thing is clear: it will be a matter of milliseconds and knots that decide victories. Those who reach the fish first will bring home the wins.
From the prestigious Bermuda Triple Crown to Gulf Coast tuna tournaments, boats repowered with Cat® C32B engines often delivered the performance edge that helped create championship moments. Following a repower by Cat dealer Gregory Poole Equipment Company, Builder’s Choice won the Bermuda Triple Crown overall. With twin C32B engines, the 64-foot Jarrett Bay Boatworks sportfisher increased both cruising and top-end speed by 1.5 knots[i] – a gain that proved decisive when the crew needed to reach fishing grounds 40 miles offshore in under an hour during the Bermuda Big Game Classic. However, the boat’s most remarkable record might just be never missing a fishing day due to engine issues throughout the demanding tournament circuit.
Big Torch achieved her first tournament win after Cat authorized marine dealer Elite Diesel Service repowered the 62-foot Viking with twin C32B main engines. While the Ferguson family crew placed six times in 24 tournaments over eight years with the vessel’s previous power configuration, the C32B gave the boat a competitive edge that enabled it to increase cruising speeds by three knots to reach 44.5 knots at wide-open throttle[ii].
Iron Leader, a 70-foot custom Jarrett Bay sportfisher, also secured her first tournament win following a twin 2400 HP C32B repower performed by Gregory Poole Equipment Company. The boat demonstrated notable performance improvements including attaining a top speed of 46 knots – a 5.26% increase – and substantially quieter operation[iii]. Keeping noise levels low can be an important factor when trolling for billfish.[iv]
The performance gains experienced by each vessel are underpinned by a modern 12-cylinder platform featuring advanced multi-shot fuel injection capabilities, which delivers the responsive acceleration and discreet operation that sportsfishing demands.
Congratulations to all 2025 tournament season winners. Caterpillar Marine looks forward to seeing crews back at the docks – and powering more success stories this year.
[i] Compared to Cat C32.
[ii] Cat.com. Big Torch Fishing Team Leaves the Competition in Its Wake. https://www.cat.com/en_US/by-industry/marine/case-studies/big-torch-c38b.html.
[iii] Compared to Cat C32.
[iv] GregoryPoole.com. “IRON LEADER” – Powered with North America’s First Pair of C32B Engines. https://www.gregorypoole.com/new-equipment/marine-power/ironleader/.
